Upgrading firearms licence question

mechanic1908

mechanic1908

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I have my POL right now.
I needed to upgrade to a PAL to acquire non restricted firearms that my father wants to give me.
I challenged the PAL test and passed.
I waited 6 weeks for my test results to be mailed back to me and then sent in the PAL application.
I received a nice letter from the CFC stating that they could not process my application because I didn't enclose test results from the RPAL test.
I already own 3 handguns and don't intend on buying any more restricted firearms.
Do I really need to take the RPAL test just to continue owning handguns?
My firearms instructor never said anything about this and he knows full well I own restricted's?
WTF?? Now I have to take the RPAL test and wait for the results another 6 weeks?? or do I?
Help!
Eric
 
If it were me, I'd call your firearms instructor and see what he has to say. I'm not sure if if there is a RPOL or only a RPAL. Either way, get your RPAL cause you say now that you don't intend to get anymore restricted arms but that could change ( I'd bet that it will as you never know when a smokin deal will pop up) and you are prepared for it. As much as I hate the paper work, registry and money and all that crap, I like to be legal and get what I want when I want depending what pops up. See what I'm saying? I don't want to ruin a holiday or hunt because of some stupid rule that was too easy to be prepared for.

It's not that big a deal to use your dads guns with your POL as long as they are registered to him and you have permission to borrow them. Go by that till you get the paper work done by the gestapo. Again, see what your instructor has to say.
 
A POL covers both restricted and non. Call the CFC, but I believe you're looking at doing the RPAL. I'd go elsewhere if the guy is taking 6 weeks to send the results though. Friggin' Pony Express was faster than that.
 
I've had both restricted and non restricted for years but only got a POL when they brought in the law.
Last year I challanged the non restriced and got a non restriced PAL and still had my restricted POL.
My licence said on the back

POSSESSION
Non-restriced
restricted

ACQUISITION
Non-restricted

So yes, you should be able to just get your non restricted upgraded to a PAL and keep your restricted POL.

Having said that you should probably take the course or challange the restricted as well cause I imagine if they ever sort all this nonsense with the registry you will have to eventually have to get a restricted PAL someday
 
Why 6 weeks for the test results? When I do courses people have their copies of everything they need when they leave the classroom.

Looks like randy had the answer you were looking for otherwise.
 
Challenge the RPAL course & make sure the instructor & you have both sent in the Correct Forms for the PAL, My students leave the class with everything they need, including test results! There is no need to process test results for 6 wks.
 
mp5k said:
Challenge the RPAL course & make sure the instructor & you have both sent in the Correct Forms for the PAL, My students leave the class with everything they need, including test results! There is no need to process test results for 6 wks.
Click to expand...

In Ontario two years ago we had a couple of Yahoo's fail their PAL test. They decided in all their infinite wisdom to change the test results and send them in anyway.
Now in Ontario all tests are sent by the instructor to the CFO to be rubber stamped. Six weeks later the tests are returned to the applicant to be submitted with their application.
It only takes a couple of idiots to screw it up for everyone.:mad:
 
My understanding is the POL was a blanket coverage for you to keep the guns you had.
Once you want a PAL and aquire guns then you need to do the RPAL exam as well because restricted was covered by the POL and now your status is changing to buy guns
 
dont complain, you should have gotten your RPAL to begin with, I dont under stand why people would get a PAL but not a RPAL.... If you dont want hand guns or carbines, dont buy them...... But you would be able to if you changed your mind....
 
@ Boombb- I'm not complaining, I intend to get my RPAL I just didn't have enough cash to challenge the test when I wrote the PAL test.
Update: randymacbc was right on the money. I called the CFC and they said that my posession licence would still cover me but the PAL would indicate aquisition of non-restricted only.
Thanks for all the replies.
Eric
 
mechanic1908 said:
@ Boombb- I'm not complaining, I intend to get my RPAL I just didn't have enough cash to challenge the test when I wrote the PAL test.
Update: randymacbc was right on the money. I called the CFC and they said that my posession licence would still cover me but the PAL would indicate aquisition of non-restricted only.
Thanks for all the replies.
Eric
Click to expand...

so are they gonna send you your PAL ?????
 
Paulinator said:
In Ontario two years ago we had a couple of Yahoo's fail their PAL test. They decided in all their infinite wisdom to change the test results and send them in anyway.
Now in Ontario all tests are sent by the instructor to the CFO to be rubber stamped. Six weeks later the tests are returned to the applicant to be submitted with their application.
It only takes a couple of idiots to screw it up for everyone.:mad:
Click to expand...

I don't doubt what you are saying, but that is absolutely stupid, as an instructor I already send in copies to AHEIA, which is the instructor association in Alberta and they send a copy to the CFO, so the CFO can check to make sure the copy sent in by the student matches the instructors if they want too. I can see it taking time if the instructor is slow in mailing in their copy, but needing the student copy to make a round trip like that is just a waste of everybody's time. Why even give the student a copy, the CFO has already seen the results to rubber stamp it, so they can match it up in the office to the PAL request.
 
Scar270 said:
I don't doubt what you are saying, but that is absolutely stupid, as an instructor I already send in copies to AHEIA, which is the instructor association in Alberta and they send a copy to the CFO, so the CFO can check to make sure the copy sent in by the student matches the instructors if they want too. I can see it taking time if the instructor is slow in mailing in their copy, but needing the student copy to make a round trip like that is just a waste of everybody's time. Why even give the student a copy, the CFO has already seen the results to rubber stamp it, so they can match it up in the office to the PAL request.
Click to expand...

When I took my non-restricted & hunter this past spring I was given a copy of my test results. The instructor sent them off to the Ontario CFO and I got a stamped copy back in 3 weeks to include with my PAL app....and the PAL was in my hands in under 4 weeks.... I was surprised how fast that was...may have something to do with all the RCMP background checks and clearance for working in nuclear these days....( I know my last nuclear clearance took over 6 months to complete...they even updated my pilot licence address)

When I did the restricted in Toronto this past fall, I was given no paperwork...and had to call the CFO after about 6 weeks to see where it was...and the CFO stamped exam copy came a week later. Now my RPAL app was received on Dec 18 in NB...we will see how long this takes...
 
ontario

In Ontario ALL copies of tests are sent to CFO Office as instructors we have only few days to have them postmarked and on their way. On the other hand they process them at their will and send a stamped copy to student to send in with his application. We are not allowed to keep any copies anymore as instructors. Well thats 2 times in the mail before the student gets to send off his application.

supermag
 
randymacbc said:
i've had both restricted and non restricted for years but only got a pol when they brought in the law.
Last year i challanged the non restriced and got a non restriced pal and still had my restricted pol.
My licence said on the back

possession
non-restriced
restricted

acquisition
non-restricted

so yes, you should be able to just get your non restricted upgraded to a pal and keep your restricted pol.

Having said that you should probably take the course or challange the restricted as well cause i imagine if they ever sort all this nonsense with the registry you will have to eventually have to get a restricted pal someday
Click to expand...

i agree
 
Sort of same boat. I had my FAC years ago...then renewed for a POL (REALLY DUMB MOVE)...now things have settled down and I wanted to get back into things.

Over a year ago I called and asked what I'd need to do...I was told that I needed to take just the RPAL course/test and then resubmit CAFC 921 indicating that I wanted to acquire both non-restricted and restricted. No payment was required, since I had already paid once ages ago.

Shortly after that I took both the PAL and RPAL courses/tests again (a nice refresher for me since I'd been out of it for a while). No problems there.

Life got busy and just last week I got around to filling out the paperwork...which my kids had scribbled all over. So I called in again to make sure I was filling it all out right and this is what I was told:
- the tests NEVER expire...I was worried since so much time had gone by
- all my test results were on file...just had to pencil in "on file already" on the form
- that according to them...I have actually had a valid PAL since 2006...not a POL...according to their records.
- I assured her that the back of my card says Posession Only. But she said definitively that if I was reissued a card right now ($25 replacement fee)...it'd say Posession and Acquisition. Go figure....
- Since I was applying for the RPAL portion anyways...a new card would have to be issued as part of the change...and since it was not technically a "replacement" there was no cost. Go figure...LOL
- as long as my 921 application address/data matched exactly what was on the screen (name, addy, phone numbers, etc...), and since my test results were already filed on their system, there would be no issues and it would likely go through very quickly (3 weeks)...we'll see, I just mailed it yesterday.

So...
1. Call in and speak to someone and confirm your records....confirm name(s), address, numbers, etc....exact names/spelling (they had "Avenue" for my street instead of "Grove" which would have flagged it for a second look)
2. Confirm what items they have on record for you...more than once they couldn't find one item or another on more than one check up (I call each year)...which is kind of scary. I had to correct some of their records by reading off what was on one card or another.
3. If you're wondering at all as to what to fill in where...they'll likely tell you exactly what they want to see. The lady I spoke to was nice in that she was sure to highlight what sections I musn't fill anything into (i.e. previous spouse) and that I had all the right checkboxes filled in. It's not exactly rocket science, but I found it comforting that the form was filled in exactly as they wanted it to be.

Best of luck
 
SUPERMAG said:
In Ontario ALL copies of tests are sent to CFO Office as instructors we have only few days to have them postmarked and on their way. On the other hand they process them at their will and send a stamped copy to student to send in with his application. We are not allowed to keep any copies anymore as instructors. Well thats 2 times in the mail before the student gets to send off his application.

supermag
Click to expand...

I don't understand how a federal law can be so differently followed in each province, well I do, it's because the CFO's think they are GODS and can create law through policy, but it's still not right.
 
Scar270 said:
Why 6 weeks for the test results? When I do courses people have their copies of everything they need when they leave the classroom.

Looks like randy had the answer you were looking for otherwise.
Click to expand...

Like SUPERMAG said, in Ontario the test results must be sent to the CFO for "approval" before they're sent back, then you send your PAL application and test results to the CFC. The turnaround time for this "approval" is typically 4-6 weeks (give or take), so you add that time to the PAL application time, meaning from the day you pass your test, it takes at least 2 months to have your PAL in hand.

Yay for beaucracy. :mad:
 
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